Waste Transportation

The transportation of radioactive waste already occurs, but will become frequent on our rails, roads and waterways, should irradiated reactor fuel be moved to interim or permanent dump sites.

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Entries by admin (191)

Thursday
Mar232017

Why Shipping Highly Radioactive Liquid Waste from Chalk River, Ontario to SRS, South Carolina is a Terrible Idea

This message below comes from Dr. Gordon Edwards, President, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility:

The US Department of Energy wants to truck highly radioactive liquid waste from Chalk River, Ontario, to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Such liquid material has never before been transported over public roads anywhere in North America. Using official data on the radioactive contents of the liquid waste, calculations have shown that a single litre is more than enough to ruin the drinking water supply of any city in North America.  Plans are to ship 23,000 litres in 100-150 truckloads over a period of four years.

On March 14, 2017, a crash involving 15 tractor-trailer trucks occurred on a major Canadian highway (Highway 401) not far from the 1000 Islands Bridge leading to Ogdensburg NY.  This bridge represents the shortest route for shipping highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River Ontario to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.

One of the trucks involved was crushed, the driver was killed, and a highly toxic liquid (fluorsilicic acid) leaked onto the highway. Fifteen first responders had to undergo decontamination.
If the highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River, bound for the SRS site in South Carolina, had instead leaked onto the highway, the consequences would have been far worse. That part of the highway would have to be dug up and carted off as radioactive waste, and contaminated individuals would have to wait to be treated by a radiological SWAT team who would have had great difficulty in reaching the scene in time.
 

Here are some news clips of the crash, the crushed truck, and the spill:

2. CTV March 14. https://youtu.be/DZeSHp4V8Bw 
4. CBC News Report: https://youtu.be/RNsZR4376sc
Friday
Mar102017

This troubled, covert agency is responsible for trucking nuclear bombs across America each day

As reported by the L.A. Times.

As the article reports:

“Transportation is the Achilles’ heel of nuclear security and everyone knows that,” said Bruce Blair, a retired Air Force missile officer, Princeton University researcher and founder of Global Zero, a nonprofit group that seeks elimination of nuclear weapons.

The danger is not a traffic accident — even a fiery crash is not supposed to explode a warhead — but a heist.

“In an age of terrorism, you’re taking a big risk any time you decide to move nuclear material into the public space over long distances via ground transport,” Blair said. “Bad things happen.”

Friday
Mar032017

Looking for consent, the Iroquois are condemning a plan to transport highly radioactive uranium through its territory

Thursday
Mar022017

Highly Enriched Uranium transport objected to by First Nations

Wednesday
Feb222017

Iroquois Caucus condemns plan to truck highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River

I R O Q U O I S  C A U C U S
 
Kahnawà:ke   Kanehsatá:ke    Akwesáhsne    Tyendinaga    Wahta    Six Nations of the Grand River    Oneida Nation of the Thames
 
Iroquois Caucus condemns plan to truck highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River 
 
For immediate release

(February 22, 2017)  The Iroquois Caucus announced today that it is unanimously condemning a plan to truck 23,000 liters of highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River, Ontario across the International border to the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, using public roads and bridges. 
 
This unprecedented action could have a devastating impact on the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River ecosystem. Depending on the route(s) chosen, there is the potential for a spill or spills into waterways flowing into the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River or one of their many tributaries.
 
This ecosystem provides drinking water for an estimated 40 million people on both sides of the border. 
 
“We have stated clearly in the past that we will not stand idly by,” stated Chief Don Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. “The seven communities of the Iroquois Caucus stand together in the protection of Mother Earth.”
 
“It is appalling that such reckless and irresponsible plans are given approval by the regulators and the Courts when far more sensible solutions are at hand,” added Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Simon.
 
“The Iroquois Caucus is well aware that liquid of a very similar nature has been routinely solidified and stored at Chalk River since 2003,” explained Kahnawà:ke Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton. “There are processes already in existence to ‘down-blend’ the liquid in order to eliminate highly-enriched uranium by converting it into low-enriched uranium.”
 
“We strongly encourage that all persons, communities and organizations that share our concerns stand together to ensure that common sense prevails,” concluded Akwesasne Grand Chief Abram Benedict. “There is no reason to continue with a plan that puts 40 million people at risk when alternatives readily exist.”
 
The Iroquois Caucus consists of elected Councils from Akwesasne, Kahnawà:ke, Kanesatake, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (Tyendinaga), Oneida Nation of the Thames, Six Nations of the Grand River and the Wahta Mohawks.  -30-
 
Contact: Trevor Bomberry, Coordinator   Joe Delaronde, Political Press Attaché Iroquois Caucus     Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke 519-761-7694, ic.coordinator@sixnations.ca  450-632-7500, joe.delaronde@mck.ca